The truth about why Biggest Loser's Bob Harper had a heart attack

Cosmopolitan

a day ago

Whether you watched the series when it was initially on TV or this is your first time hearing about it, everyone is talking about The Biggest Loser right now. And, that's no coincidence. Netflix's newest documentary – Fit for TV: The Reality of The Biggest Loser – takes a deep-dive into the programme that captured America's attention from 2004 to 2016, interviewing everyone from former contestants to coaches who appeared on the show.
Speaking of which, one coach from The Biggest Loser who has been of particular interest is Bob Harper. More recently, you might recognise him from the third season of The Traitors US, but he first made a name for himself as a celebrity trainer before going on to coach contestants on The Biggest Loser and later present the show, too. All of that is great for Harper's career, but fans also had concerns after he faced a shocking medical scare in 2017.
Here, we go into who Bob Harper is and how he – the apparent epitome of health – suffered a heart attack...
After initially starting his career as a personal trainer to the stars (as well as appearing as an extra in a string of music videos), Bob Harper made his TV debut as a fitness coach on the first season of The Biggest Loser in 2004. He continued on the show as a trainer across 15 seasons, and also appeared in several of the show's spin-off workout DVDs. By 2015, he'd taken over presenting the hit series and made appearances on the first three seasons of The Biggest Loser Australia.
Beyond The Biggest Loser, in 2010 Harper launched his own website through which subscribers could receive weight-loss coaching. The success of this online business led to the release of his own workout DVD series, followed by contributions to Shape magazine as well as high-profile speaking events.
Taking all of the above into consideration, Harper sounds like a pretty healthy guy. It came as a shock, then, when at age 51 he suffered a heart attack while working out at the gym. This prompted many fans to query: how could someone so fit have such a major health scare?
"I was in full cardiac arrest,'' Harper told TODAY just two months after the heart attack that almost claimed his life. "My heart stopped. Not to be dramatic, but I was dead. I was on that ground dead." The fitness coach went on to explain that he had suffered a 'widow maker' which has a survival rate of just 6%.
As for how he survived, Harper credits the fast-thinking of those around him in the gym and the fact that there were two doctors nearby. A sudden cardiac arrest like the one Harper had stops the heart beating and blood is no longer pumped through the body or to the brain – this means death can occur within minutes. Thankfully, the quick-acting doctors performed CPR and used a defibrillator to keep him alive.
"The fact that there were doctors in the gym when I had the heart attack saved my life," he said of what happened that day. Like fans, Harper said he was in disbelief at being told he'd had a heart attack when he woke up in hospital two days later.
"It was hugely shocking for me,'' he said, going on to explain what caused the near-death event. "I've learned a lot about myself," the fitness expert added. "I've learned a lot about the fact that genetics played a part in this. It is so important to know your health." For context, Harper's mother died of a heart attack at 70 and his grandfather passed away from one as well. What's more, despite his life being very exercise-heavy, his cholesterol levels were revealed to be quite high.
While genetics may have been the cause of Harper's heart attack, experts have credited his fitness levels as a reason for his survival – although, this is something he had to tone down in the aftermath. Unable to jump back into his former fitness routine, Harper turned to lower-intensity workouts, including yoga. He also took up cardio rehab three times a week, and swapped his usual "carnivore" diet for one that centred around plant-based ingredients, per NBC.
Understandably describing his heart attack as "life-changing", Harper explained that, while terrifying, it gave him a new outlook on life. "I became so much more aware of how precious this life is and that life can turn on a dime and lights can go out before you know it," he told NBC. "I found that I'm much more appreciative and much more passionate. Once you've had a heart attack, and survive it, you're part of the club – the heart attack survivors club – you want to be able to get the message out to help people as much as you can."
As Harper's case has shown, even if you live a well-balanced, active lifestyle, you are still at risk of having a heart attack. That's because, while regular exercise and a healthy diet can be generally beneficial for heart health, and reduce the risk of certain conditions, it doesn't eliminate that risk altogether.
According to the NHS, coronary heart disease (CHD) is the leading cause of heart attacks, and your chance of developing it is increased by: smoking, a high-fat diet, diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure (hypertension), and being overweight or obese.
Genetics also play a role. "This means that if someone you are related to has or has had a condition [like CHD], you might be at risk of developing it too," explains The British Heart Foundation. That being said, "while you cannot change your family history, or your genetics, there are things you can do to reduce your risk of having a heart attack." These include staying active – like Harper – as well as maintaining a healthy weight and avoiding alcohol and tobacco products.
All three episodes of the Fit for TV: The Reality of the Biggest Loser documentary will be available to stream on Netflix from Friday 15 August.
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This article is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice or diagnosis. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.